HOLDEN — The fifth annual Holden Fall Frolic will enliven the village 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Holden Town Grounds, 570 Main Road.
A fundraiser for the restoration of the historic Holden Town Hall, admission to the Holden Fall Frolic is free.
The Historic Holden Town Hall, known originally as the Town House, was completed in 1873 and dedicated Jan. 9, 1873, by Rev. J.S. Cogswell. It became Grange 544 on June 18, 1921, and was active for many years, according to information at historicholdentownhall.org.
Located on Route 1A in Holden, the building was moved in 2009 to its present location several feet back from the original location to provide easier access and parking. Some landscaping and post and rail fencing were added in 2011.
As the only historic building owned by the town, efforts have been made in recent years to begin renovations in order to make the building usable and productive again.
Activities held in the building recently include a tea for former Grange members, open houses, cleanup sessions, a Town Council meeting and Christmas tree lightings.
The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in July. Recently, architect Robert Ervin of Holden joined the town hall’s board of directors and will use his expertise to make recommendations for improvements to the historic building.
Features of the Fall Frolic event will include:
• Pancake breakfast, 7-10 a.m., in the gazebo, Holden Congregational Church. Also, baked goods sale.
• Food vendors Pompeii pizza, Holden Historical Society chowder and biscuit luncheon, Holden Fire Department Auxiliary hot dogs and hamburgers, and Holden Elementary School PVA bake sale.
• Touch-a-Truck show, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Maine Forestry Helicopter touch down at the baseball diamond, 9-10 a.m.
• Fire department open house, 9a.m.-3 p.m. Live music, book signings with Maine authors John R. Cobb, Mark Nickerson, John Ford Sr., Parker Tripp and Angeli Perrow. Free arts and crafts with AC Moore, bounce houses, face painting Brewer Hannaford, Texas Roadhouse, Darling’s photo booth.
• Hermon Pans Community Steel Drum Band, 9-10 a.m.
• Magic show with Ray Campbell, 10-10:30 a.m.
• Children’s games, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 25 tickets for $5.
• Singer Erica Clark, 11-11:30 a.m.
• Top Hat II Dancers, 11:30 a.m.-noon.
• Live auction, noon.
• Step in Time Cloggers, 1:30-2 p.m.
• Tractor rides by Red Barn Campground, 1:30-3 p.m.